Concerns about negative portrayals of landlords by politicians, tenant campaigners, and the media have become a significant factor affecting landlord confidence, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reports. This issue is now the fourth most discussed concern among landlords.
The NRLA found that comments regarding the treatment and public portrayal of landlords have doubled as a proportion of all responses since the start of 2025. This has seen the issue climb from eighth to fourth place in the organisation's quarterly research into landlord confidence.
While the NRLA cautioned that this does not necessarily mean hostility itself is increasing, landlords appear more frustrated by the rhetoric surrounding their role. One landlord noted that the media had made the Renters' Rights Act a "negative and scary prospect for private landlords."
Landlords considering selling their properties mentioned negative portrayals more frequently and ranked it higher among their concerns. The NRLA stated that negative portrayals appear to be part of a wider decision-making process that also includes policy, costs, and overall confidence.
Many landlords surveyed felt they were being used as scapegoats for broader housing problems. For those already questioning their future, escaping the "toxicity" surrounding the sector has become another factor in their decision to stay or leave.